BIOGRAPHY
GERHARD MARX
(b. 1976, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Gerhard Marx’s poetic and philosophical visual language is composed through a physical engagement with distinctive material traditions. His process entails careful acts of dissection and rearrangement, which allow Marx to engage the poetic potential and philosophical assumptions of his chosen material in the process of developing original drawing, sculptural and performative languages. A primary focus in his work engages physical depictions of space – ‘spatial imaginaries’ – with an interest in how these descriptions of space affect and shape that which it describes. Marx uses acts of fragmentation and reassembly to construct alternate and deliberately complicated spatial propositions that aspire to hold multiple positionalities, doubled presences, folded histories, spaces that exist across, in between, and amongst.
Completed in 2022 is Locus (Richmond), a public sculpture for the small town of Richmond in the Northern Cape of South Africa. Previous public sculptures include Vertical Aerial: JHB (Hollard, JHB); The World On Its Hind Legs, a collaboration with William Kentridge (Beverley Hills, LA); The Fire Walker, in collaboration with William Kentridge (Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Johannesburg); and Paper Pigeons, in collaboration with Maja Marx (Pigeon Square, Johannesburg).
Marx’s work has been shown at international art fairs (Art Basel, Frieze London, FIAC, Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Basel Miami). It is held in numerous public and private art collections, and was included on the South African pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale. Marx’s most recent solo exhibition, Spatial Imaginaries, Propositional Cartographies opened at the Goodman Gallery, London 2021. Recent performative work includes scenography and costumes for Lara Foot’s 2022 reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello for Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus.
Marx completed his undergraduate degree at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, and received his MFA (cum laude) from Wits School of Art, Johannesburg, where he was a full time member of staff between 2003 and 2007, lecturing in both the Fine Art and Dramatic Arts Departments. Marx is a fellow of the Eckhart Residency, the Sundance Film Institute, the Annenberg Fund and the Ampersand Foundation. He lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa. Marx is represented by Everard Read Gallery.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021
Spatial Imaginaries, Propositional Cartographies, Goodman Gallery, London, UK
2020
Near Distant, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Soundings and Fathoms, US Woordfees, Stellenbosch, South Africa
2019
Ecstatic Archive, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2017
Transparent Territories, The Viewing Room, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2015
A Geometry of Echoes, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2014
The Garden at Night, NWU gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa
2013
Lessons in Looking Down, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2011
Cumulus, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
The Viewing Room, The Viewing Room, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2007
photo-, Warren Siebrits Modern and Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
2005
Gerhard Marx, Warren Siebrits Modern and Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
2003
New Works, Outlet, Pretoria, South Africa
2000
Drawing and Animation, Open Window Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
1999
You are here, Civic Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
Where do I begin, curated by Alexander Richards, Stevenson, Cape Town, South Africa
The Same Space Three Times, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Turbine Art Fair, with The Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2021
Fathom, RHE water show, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2020
Burning House, a selection of Antoine de Galbert collection, Muzeum Sztuki, Lodz, Poland
Witness: Afro Perspectives from the Jorge M Pérez Collection, curated by Tandazani Dhlakama, El Espacio 23, Miami, USA
Did you ever think there would come a time, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Frieze, with Goodman Gallery, New York, USA
Frieze, with Goodman Gallery, London, UK
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Goodman
Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2019
Shutter Speed Reflection/Deflection, South African Indie Scenography, curated by Tamara Guhrs and Jenni-lee Crewe, Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, Czechia
My Hart is so Leeg Soos 'n Spieël (My Heart is a Void, the Void is a Mirror), curated by Gian Maria Tosatti, A4 Arts Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa
2019
I’VE GROWN ROSES IN THIS GARDEN OF MINE, Goodman Gallery, London, UK
Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Miami, USA
Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Hong Kong
2018
Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Miami, USA
2017
Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Miami, USA
Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Basel, Switzerland
Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Hong Kong
2016
7 Rewind Films, Williams College, Massachusetts, USA
2015
Skelet, de armatuur van het lichaam in de hedendaagse beeldhoukunst, Museum Beelden aan Zee, The Hague, Netherlands
2014
Between Subject and Object, Michaelis Galleries, Cape Town, South Africa
300 Years of Botanical Art, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sitting to Selfie, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2013
Imaginary Fact: South African Art and the Archive, South African Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale, Italy
My Joburg, Maison Rouge, Paris, France
The Beautyful Ones, Nolan Judin Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2011
The Life of Bone, Origins Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
2010
The Marks We Make, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
The Land Revisited, Klein Karoo Arts Festival, Oudsthoorn, South Africa
2009
Adding Subtractions, curated by Daniella Geo (Belgium), Bag Factory, Johannesburg, South Africa
Capital: How heads speak, curated by Fiona Rankin Smith, Wits University Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sources: Contemporary sculpture in the landscape, Nirox Sculpture Garden, Johannesburg, South Africa
2006
Figuring Faith, curated by Fiona Rankin Smith, Standard Bank Art Gallery, Johannesburg; National Arts Festival, Makhanda, South Africa
2004
Ten Years of Democracy, Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudsthoorn, South Africa
PERFORMANCE AND THEATRE
2022
OTHELLO directed by Lara Foot Newton for Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus (scenography and costumes), Germany
2020
VEHICLE, with Shane Cooper, Kyle Shepherd and Toast Coetzer, US Woordfeees, Stellenbosch, South Africa
2019
VEHICLE, with Shane Cooper and Diamanda La Berge Dramm, Frascati Theatre, Holland Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2018
VEHICLE, with Shane Cooper, Kyle Shepherd and vocals by Toast Coetzer, Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg, South Africa
2019
VEHICLE, conceived, created and directed by Gerhard Marx, with performances by musicians Shane Cooper and Diamanda La Berge Dramm, spoken word poetry written and performed by Toast Coetzer, performed at The Frascati Theatre, Holland Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2018
VEHICLE, conceived, created and directed by Gerhard Marx, with performances by musicians Shane Cooper and Kyle Shepherd, spoken word poetry written and performed by Toast Coetzer, as part of the Season 4 programme, curated by Jane Taylor, Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg, South Africa
2008
REwind, a Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony, composed by Phillip Miller, directed by Gerhard Marx, with interactive film by Gerhard and Maja Marx, Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa
They Say, written, designed and directed by Gerhard Marx for Aardklop National Arts Festival (winner: Bravo Award - Most Memorable Moment, Aardklop 2008), Potchefstroom, South Africa
2007
REwind, a Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony, Celebrate Brooklyn NY and the 62’ Centre, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
2006
The Collision Project, directed by Gerhard Marx, composed by Clare Loveday, The Substation, Wits Theatre Complex, South Africa
Truth in Translation, directed by Michael Lessick (NY), set design by Gerhard Marx, tours internationally 2006-2008
2005
Hear and Now, written by Lara Foot Newton, co-directed by Lara Foot Newton and Gerhard Marx, scenography by Gerhard Marx, tours internationally 2005-2006
2003
Tshepang, written and directed by Lara Foot Newton, scenography by Gerhard Marx, tours internationally 2003-2019
PUBLIC ART
2022
Locus (Richmond), Richmond, Northern Cape, South Africa
2020
The World on its Hind Legs, in collaboration with William Kentridge, Norval Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa
2019
Vertical Aerial: Johannesburg, Hollard, Johannesburg, South Africa
2017
The World on its Hind Legs, in collaboration with William Kentridge, Beverley Hills, Los Angeles, USA
2015
Vertical Aerial: Johannesburg, Old Fort, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa
2013
Vertical Aerial: Johannesburg, commissioned by Spier Architectural Arts for the Johannesburg Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa
90 Grayston, facade of 90 Grayston building, with GLH Architects, Sandton, South Africa
2010
The World on its Hind Legs, in collaboration with artist William Kentridge, Nedbank Campus, Sandton, South Africa
2009
The Fire Walker, in collaboration with William Kentridge, Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Johannesburg, South Africa
2009
Paper Pigeon, in collaboration with Maja Marx, Pigeon Square, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2019
Ecstatic Archive, with texts by Sean O’Toole, Edgar Pieterse and Alex Dodd (published by Goodman Gallery)
2015
Depths in Feet, catalogue (co-published by the artist and Goodman Gallery)
2009
‘A Matter of Life and Death: The Function of Dysfunction in the work of the Handspring Puppet Company’ in Taylor, J (ed) 2009, Handspring Puppet Company, Johannesburg, David Krut Publishing
2005
Gerhard Marx, catalogue (published by Warren Siebrits Modern and Contemporary Art)
ART COLLECTIONS
Fondation Antoine de Galbert
South African Foundation for Contemporary Art
Renee and Robert Drake Art Collection
Wits Art Museum
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Absa Bank
SABC
Nedbank
Sasol Art Collection
The Perez Collection, Perez Art Museum, Miami
21 C collection, Kentucky
Spier Collection
ART AWARDS
2020 Festival Artist, Woordfees, Soundings and Fathoms, Stellenbosch
2014 Festival Artist, Aardklop Festival, The Garden at Night, NWU gallery, Potchefstroom
2012 Visual Artist Award, KYKNET, Aardklop Art Festival, Oudtshoorn
1998 Michaelis Award; Best Student, Michaelis School of Art, UCT
Simon Gershwin Award; Most Promising Art Student
1997 Michaelis Award; Best Student, Michaelis School of Art, UCT
SELECTED FILM AWARDS
2007 And There in The Dust, with Lara Foot Newton: Best Animated Film, and Best International Short Film at the Bird’s Eye Festival in London
2006 And There in The Dust, with Lara Foot Newton: Best Short Film at the Latin, African and Asian Film Festival, Milan; 3 Golden Horn awards at the South African Film Awards (Best Animation, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, short film)
THEATRE AWARDS
2009 Naledi Award, Best Set Design (REwind: A Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony)
2008 Bravo Award; Most Memorable Moment, Aardklop National Arts Festival (They Say)
2005 Naledi Award, Best Set Design (The Tempest)
2004 Naledi Award, Best Set Design (Tshepang)
FELLOWSHIPS AND RESIDENCIES
2009 Cinema du Monde Pavillion fellow, Cannes Film Festival, by invitation of the French Institute, France
2008 Sundance Institute Fellowship: Sundance Film Directors’ Laboratory, Utah, USA
Annenberg Film Fellowship, University of Southern California, USA
2007 Sundance Institute Fellowship, Sundance Screen Writers’ Laboratory, Utah, USA
2004 Ampersand Fellowship, New York, USA
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
2004–07 Lecturer, Wits School of Art, University of the Witwatersrand
2001–03 Lecturer, School of Art, Pretoria Technikon (currently known as Tshwane University of Technology)
